Sewing machine

ABSTRACT

The sewing machine casing incorporates a lower free arm and is slidably mounted in a base that serves as part of the work surface when the free arm is located within the base. The casing can be moved forward so that the free arm overhangs one end of the base. The sewing machine also has two swinging sides and an end flap for shutting up the machine after work is finished, and which, when open, serve as ramps leading to the work surface.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Marcel Fresard Petit-Lancy,Switzerland [21] Appl. No. 761,944 [22] Filed Sept. 24, 1968 [45]Patented Jan. 5, 1971 73] Assignee Melina S. A. Fribourg Switzerland :1company of Switzerland [32] Priority Oct. 10, 1967 l 33 Switzerland [31No. 14,124/67 [54] SEWING MACHINE 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 112/258, 112/63,112/217.1 [51 Int. Cl D05b 73/10, D0'5b77/00 [50] Field of Search 112/63,

260, 258. 217.1, 217.2, 211,3, 2 17 ,4 217 (all);

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,197,599 4/1940 Wilson112/260 Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin Assistant Examiner-George l-l.Krizmanich Attorney-Waters, Roditi, Schwartz & Nissen ABSTRACT: Thesewing machine casing incorporates a lower free arm and is slidablymounted in a base that serves as part of the work surface when the freearm is located within the base. The casing can be moved forward so thatthe free arm overhangs one end of the base. The sewing machine also hastwo swinging sides and an end flap for shutting up the machine afterwork is finished, and which, when open, serve as ramps leading to thework surface.

PATENTEUJAH SIQYI 3,552 340 SHEET 1 OF 3 PATENIED JAN SIS?! 5,

SHEET 2 BF 3 PATENIEUJAN 5|97| $552,340

SHEET 3 OF 3 SEWING MACHINE The invention relates to a sewing machineenclosed in a casing which has a lower free arm.

Sewing machines of this kind have the disadvantage that the work surfaceis annoyingly and inconveniently narrow.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a sewing machine whichcombines the advantages of a machine with a free arm with those of amachine having a wide work surface.

An object of the invention is a sewing machine that is slidable in abase which serves as part of the work surface when the lower free arm ofthe machine is located entirely within the base.

This object and others of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description.

The invention will be described, with reference to the FIGS. of theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a sewing machine of the invention closed up;

FIG. 2 shows the machine ready for use, with a wide work surface;

FIG. 3 is a view in three-quarter-face of the sewing machine completelyopened up; l

FIG. 4 is a side view of the machine in the position shown in FIG. 3,with the base partly in section; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second form of the invention.

With reference to the FIGS. the sewing machine is housed in a casing 1comprising a lower free arm 2 (best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4), a pedestal3, anupper arm 4, and a head 5. The casing rests on an elongated base 6inform of a channel or gutter. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the baseincorporates a bottom 7 and two longitudinal sides 8. The rear part ofthe base 6 embodies an opening equal in size tothe width of the lowerpart of the pedestal 3. The front part 9 of the base is hollow to form acompartment, the two surfaces I0 of the compartment forming, togetherwith the upper face 11 of the free arm, the work surface of the sewingmachine. The hollow of the front part 9 of the base 6 accepts the lowerpart 12 of the casing 1 when the sewing machine is located in theposition shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, wherein the free arm 2 projects beyondthe one end of the base 6.

As shown in FIG. 4, the bottom 7 of the base 6 embodies longitudinalslots 13. Projections 14 with heads pass through the slots and are rigidwith the bottom of the casing 1. The casing bottom is, therefore, freeto slide in the base 6, so that the sewing machine can be used in theposition shown in FIG. 2, with a wide work surface formed by the upperface 11 of the free arm and the complementary surfaces of the base 6. Inthis position, the free arm is located within the base 6. The sewingmachine, in the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, can be used to sewtubular pieces, such as sleeves or trousers, by

sliding the casing l with respect to the base 6 so ta so that the freearm 2 overhangs the base end.

The sewing machine of the invention, which can be converted from asewing machine having a broad work surface to one having a free arm, isfurther provided with swinging sides 15 and I6 pivotally connected tothe longitudinal edges 17 of the base 6. These sides can be swungbetween two different positions:

one, in which-the sides are open, or swung down, as shown in FIGS. 2 and3, the sides constituting each a ramp leading to the work surface I0'and11; and

another, in which the sides are closed, or swung up, as shown in FIG. I,the sides covering the upper part of the easing 1 after sewing isfinished. Any suitable closure means can be used to hold the sides shut.In the embodiment illustrated, the sides are snapped shut by springcatches 18 that engage in notches l9 embodied in the sides 15 and 16.

The sewing machine also has an end flap pivotally connected to the lowerfront edge 21, of the base 6, underneath the free arm 2. The flap coversthe front end of the free arm, as well as, when the machine is to becovered up, the head 5. A spring catch I8 cooperates with a notch 19 inthe flap 20, for holding the latter shut in its raised position.

In the embodiment shown, the flap 20 comprises 'two parts 22 and 23,pivotally connected together at 26. The shape of the lower part 22 issimilar to that of the base front end, except for the groove of thelatter. The upper part 23 extends from the level of the work surface 10and 11 to the top of the sewing machine head 5. A spring catch 18 and anotch 19' as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 releaseably and securely hold thelower part 22 against the front end of the base 6, when the free arm 2is located within the base 6. In this position, the upper part 23 islowered to permit sewing, and forms a ramp leading to the work surface.

The sewing machine advantageously incorporates means for locking thecasing 1 and base 6 in their two mutual positions, respectivelyillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The locks can be a conventional springarrangement or mechanically operated by a lever or button.

The machine further has an accessory compartment in the upper arm 4 ofthe casing l. The upper plate 25 of the arm 4 constitutes the cover forthe compartment, and is removable.

A handle 26, pivotally connected in the upper part of the arm 4, enablesthe sewing machine to be easily carried about particularly when it isshut up. w

The invention described admits of various embodiments lying with withinits scope. The sides 15 and 16 and the flap 20 can be eliminated, andreplaced by a simple cover placed over the casing 1, when the sewing isfinished. This embodiment is shown in FIG. 5, the lower part of whichshows the sewing machine with its casing 1 slidably supported in thebase 6. The upper part of FIG. 5 shows the cover 27, which is placedover the casing 1 to protect the sewing machine when it is not in use.The cover 27 can be sufficiently high to cover the entire machine,either from the bottom of the casing I up or from the level of the worksurface 10 and 11 up. The handle 26 is nonrotatably fixed to the cover27, and any suitable releasable fastening means is used to secure thecover to the sewing machine.

In a further variation of the first embodiment, only the two sides 15and 16 are retained, .the front end of the machine being left open, orthe flap 20 being replaced by a plate sliding in the head 5, as in thefront end thereof, for example, to cover the space between the head andthe lower free arm of the sewing machine.

In another variation, the sides 15 and 16 can be shortened in length tocover only the open space comprised between the pedestal 3 and the head5.

The arrangement to facilitate sliding between the casing 1 and the base6 can be of any kind suitable to the purpose, such as, among others, adovetail slide, a roller or ball bearing slide, or a slide employingguide rods.

Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described,the scope of, and the breadth of protection afforded to, the inventionare limited solely by the appended claims.

Iclaim:

l. A sewing machine having a casing, said casing including an upper armterminating in a head, a lower free arm, and a work surface incorporatedby said free arm, the improvement comprising a base for the sewingmachine for receiving said free arm thereof and supporting the latterfor relative sliding therebetween, whereby the sewing machine can bemoved from a first position in which said free arm is located withinsaid base to a second position in which said free arm projects from saidbase, at least one horizontal surface incorporated by said baseextending from said free arm work surface to provide a work surface ofincreased width when the sewing machine is in said first position, saidbase having two sides located opposite respective sidesof said casing,two swinging side members, means for pivotally mounting said twoswinging side members one on each of said sides of said base to permiteach said side member to swing about a horizontal axis between an openposition in which it constitutes a ramp extending to said work surfaceof increased width and a closed position in which it covers a respectiveside of the upper arm of said sewing machine casing, and releasablemeans for holding each said side member in its closed position, saidhead and lower free arm each having a front end located at the same endof said casing, a front end flap for covering said free arm and easinghead front ends, and means for pivotally connecting said flap to saidbase, and wherein said base embodies a front end with an edge locatedbelow said free arm front end, said means for pivotally connecting saidflap to said base connecting the flap to said edge, said flap includingfirst and second parts, means for pivotally connecting together saidfirst and second parts, said first part having a shape similar to saidbase front end for covering the latter, and said second part extendingfrom the level of said free arm work surface to 4 v the top of saidcasing head, and releasable means for holding said first partagainstsaid' base front end when the sewing machine is in saidfirstposition, whereby sai d second part can be swung down to form aramp leading to said 'worksurfaee of increased width. 1

2. The sewing machine as definedin'iilaim '1', wherein said casingincludes a pedestalysaid"base ihcl'udes a-front part located remotelyfrom said casing pedestal when'said free arm isin said first position,and further including a compartment incorporated within said basefro'ntpart for accepting the lower part of said casing that'adjoins'saidpedestabwh'en the sewing machine is invsaid second position.

1. A sewing machine having a casing, said casing including an upper armterminating in a head, a lower free arm, and a work surface incorporatedby said free arm, the improvement comprising a base for the sewingmachine for receiving said free arm thereof and supporting the latterfor relative sliding therebetween, whereby the sewing machine can bemoved from a first position in which said free arm is located withinsaid base to a second position in which said free arm projects from saidbase, at least one horizontal surface incorporated by said baseextending from said free arm work surface to provide a work surface ofincreased width when the sewing machine is in said first position, saidbase having two sides located opposite respective sides of said casing,two swinging side members, means for pivotally mounting said twoswinging side members one on each of said sides of said base to permiteach said side member to swing about a horizontal axis between an openposition in which it constitutes a ramp extending to said work surfaceof increased width and a closed position in which it covers a respectiveside of the upper arm of said sewing machine casing, and releasablemeans for holding each said side member in its closed position, saidhead and lower free arm each having a front end located at the same endof said casing, a front end flap for covering said free arm and casinghead front ends, and means for pivotally connecting said flap to saidbase, and wherein said base embodies a front end with an edge locatedbelow said free arm front end, said means for pivotally connecting saidflap to said base connecting the flap to said edge, said flap includingfirst and second parts, means for pivotally connecting together saidfirst and second parts, said first part having a shape similar to saidbase front end for covering the latter, and said second part extendingfrom the level of said free arm work surface to the top of said casinghead, and releasable means for holding said first part against said basefront end when the sewing machine is in said first position, wherebysaid second part can be swung down to form a ramp leading to said worksurface of increased width.
 2. The sewing machine as defined in claim 1,wherein said casing includes a pedestal, said base includes a front partlocated remotely from said casing pedestal when said free arm is in saidfirst position, and further including a compartment incorporated withinsaid base front part for accepting the lower part of said casing thatadjoins said pedestal when the sewing machine is in said secondposition.